YOUR COMMENTS

Hillary didn't lie - she just mis-spoke..time and time again. She is probably in shock right now, since she expected to be crowned the nominee with no problem at all. But the other choices are not much better...Obama = no experience; McCain = a continuation of most of Bush's policies. Looks like I'll be writing in Arnold Ziffle - the pig from Green Acres. At least I would be able to expect pork with every signed piece of legislation!
- B. Baggins, Pittsburgh

Hillary was in Miami before the polls closed or the Florida media was lying. If Hillary is elected it will just mean that Bill can go back to the playground, they can get their hands on "stuff" they didn't get around to stealing the first time AND MORE DAYS OF SCANDEL.
- Tiffany, Lake Mary, Florida

Why would anyone vote for Hillary? She has already been President for 8 years. She did everything when Bill was in the White House
- Dylan, McKinney, TX

What about what they stand for? Their pledges on how to turn this Country around? You all wern't born yesterday, you know that lies are in order for a Politician. I think you all need to get a littke deeper than this. I came here looking for some insight on the Canidates, and all i get is b.s.
- Crystal, Santa Jose, CA

"...hillary clinton is more experienced she has been at this for 30 years, how many years does obama have,..."
After so many years she should not be so prone to crying in public. If she and her husband are sent back to the Oval Office he will give her plenty to cry about.
- Daniel Walker, Amityville, New York

As a Floridian's we are imcensed that the Democrat Party thinks we don't count. If they don't restore our delegates then alot of us Democrats will vote Republican or for a third party. By the way only Obama broke hos pledge. TV commercials ran here for days before our primary and he still lost big. Hillary is not a liar Obama is the one who broke the pledge. She just gets it that we are angry as hell.
- Michael, Delray Beach

hillary clinton is more experienced she has been at this for 30 years, how many years does obama have, also the news media wanted more to hear about what clinton had to say then obama... also right now we are in desparate times, desparate times need desparate measures ... clinton is witty, fast, factual, articulate, well educated and has a great deameaner and i think she will make a tremendous president...
- june, philly

I do not understand why anyone would want Ted kennedy endorseing them... the kennedys have such a bad reputation . A lot of good people have met their demize being associateing with some of the kenndeys..
I would love for Hillary Clinton to become our president.. She is a very smart lady.. Sorry we all do not agree..
Frances
- Frances Spangler, Signal MTn.. TN

A few days before Florida voted, the Clinton campaign began saying that both Michigan and Florida's delegates should be seated at the DNC Convention. So if I was a Floridian, I might have thought that my vote would only count if I voted for Hillary.
- Lucio, NYC, NY

Hillary is not solution to the nations problems she IS the problem. There is only a fine line that divides her and those she supposedly opposes. She lacks moral clarity. She did campaign in FL at "private" events where TV cameras were rolling. Can we please get a leader that doesn't slip around on the edge of semantics and actually stands up for something. Anything?
- Tom Ellis, Chicago Ill

Your newspaper is wrong. Hillary did not campaign in Fl. By the way, according to area news, Obama's TV ads did flow over into northern Florida. Hillary did come here after the polls closed to thank her supporters...which is a proper thing to do.I am surprised that Obama did not do likewise.
- Joanne Hannon, Pinellas Park, FL

Do you really trust the word of Obama ?All politicians will say anything to get elected. Its much harder to change the system then Obama leads everyone to believe
- Joshua, farmingdale

I can't help but lump Billary supporters in the same category as Bush supporters... they're people that love liars, and hate this country.
- Jake, San Francisco, CA

This article doesn't actually report what happened. The Democratic National Party told the Presidental Hopefuls that they should withdraw. Some, such as Hillary knew this would hurt the party's chances of winning in Michigan and Florida. The fact that the others withdrew only proves that they are controlled by the party and don't care about the people in either Michigan or Florida.
- Natch, Jacksonville, FL

There was a pledge. Days before the primary, HC said she would try to get the Florida delegates seated at the convention. That is campaigning, pure and simple. HC arrives in Florida after the primary polls close to thank those who voted for her. A standard appearance for a win. That is campaigning, pure and simple. What part of the pledge did HC not understand? Apparently the part that the rest of the country did understand. A broken promise, again. Have we as a nation come to expect and accept a candidate that openly breaks a pledge? Wake up America!
- Bob, Cotter, AR

I'm a GOP and against Hillary but, this "article" is better be a blog because this "article" seems to be written by an angry poorly informed 18 year old teenager blogger. It was a good laugh.
- Henry, FL

First, let me say that I am one of the 45% of people who would NEVER vote for Hill under any circumstance. She's just too slippery for my tastes.

Someone in this thread said that Bill & Hill labeled Obama the "black candidate" because they are "racist". While there is a grain of truth here, this line of thinking takes us right into their thought domain.

Bill and Hill may or may not be Racists (I won't speculate) BUT they absolutely are OPPORTUNISTS. My main objection to their ilk is personified in their sliming of Obama -- the end justifies the means.

I'm a Republican and quite likely would never vote for a Democrat on ideological grounds, but to me Obama seems like the real deal. It is pathetic to see someone seemingly so idealistic (and decent) thrown into the water as chum for the Clintons. I am *almost* rooting for Mr. Obama.
- Jay, Pittsburg, KS

What part of "not campaigning in Florida" did HC not understand? She said before the primary she would try to get Florida delegates seated at the convention. When HC went into Florida Tuesday night after the polls closed, she was campaigning for those Florida delegates. 50+% of Florida Democrats support a candidate that breaks a pledge and lies to the country! Great choice Florida. NOT!!!
- Bob, Cotter, AR

I don't see anything cheap about what she did in florida, leaving her name on the ballot in michigan was a cheap shot though. Along with all the lies about Obama. Naming a democratic candidate as "pro-life" the day before the election is low even for her. But the fault truly belongs to the voters who believed it. I have to say though if Hillary wins the democratic nominee this country is in for another 8 years of downfall. Maybe McCain will win, i can't agree with his position on most issues but at least he's running for the right reasons.
- Keith, Fort Hood, TX

She did not "Campaign" in Florida. She campaigned outside of Florida telling the Florida people she would get them in the convention and have their votes count. Who would you vote for if you felt the Democrats were snubbing you and this Democrat was going to fight for you? She is an evil woman and her husband is worse. They have labeled Obama A black candidate instead of a presidential candidate because they are racist. They want people to know he is black hoping that will turn their votes to the white woman. For the record, I am white.
- Griffiths, Forest City, Pa

I witnessed first hand the injection of race politics into the SC Democratic primary by the Clinton campaign and felt the level of racial tension rise between ethnic groups. Confederacy sympathizers marched and rallied across the State with renewed love of Dixie. Lies and distortions circulated about Barack Obama. Amidst these fears and fervor, the Obama campaign took root and spread its message of unity and political rejuvenation among divergent masses of people. Just as the SC election trends revealed unwelcomed results, the Clinton campaign left the State in haste and defeat leaving behind a region of our country needlessly agitated and exploited by their practice of racial politics. The Clintons offered neither remorse nor regret, reconciltaion nor healing. Strategically, the Clintons believed their mission to heighten ethnic strife would serve well their political cause by deepening the alleged divisions between latinos and blacks just in time for their campaign's move Westward. Barack Obama's leadership is needed to help repair this breach created by the Clintons. In unision with Senator Kennedy's courageous voice out West, Barack Obama will signal the Democratic Party's stands for equality of opportunity, human dignity, respect for our rich ethnic diversity, and a celebration of civility, bipartisanship and collaboration. Hillary Clinton's reversal of her pledge not to vie for Michigan and Florida delegates joined with other attacks on the Democratic Party including her complicity in using race politics in SC, herald a win-at-all-cost election strategy which must be rejected unequivocably by the Democratic Party.
- Marion, Charleston, SC

Just wondering if you got my comment submitted last night. I'lll say it again. Hillary did not campaign down here. You were wrong to say so. She did come in after the polls closed to thanks her supporters. As for Obama, I did not see, but heard in the news his TV ads did get into northern Fl. I would suggest he could have paid a brief visit last evening here to thank people who suportedhim.
- Joanne Hannon, Pinellas Park, FL

Once again, the Grand Old Union Leader abuses its readers with distorted facts and callous condemnations.

Both the Flordia Republican and Democratic parties were snactioned and "punished" by their respective National Committees - the Florida Republicans lost half of their alloted delegates, the Florida Democrats lost all of them (as did Michigan's). Hillary honored her promise not to campaign in either state, unlike Obama who let national cable TV ads air in Florida. Ignoring the votes of over 3 million people in a key swing state, including the 850,000+ who voted FOR Hillary, is the height of arrogance, if not stupidity. If nothing else, Hillary's shrewd and ethical management of the opportunities in Florida and Michigan stand in marked contrast to the amateur and ineffectual idealism of her outmaneuvered opponents. Hillary, you GO GIRL!
- Keith Halloran, Rindge

The Union Leader's word is the only thing "worth nothing".

Clinton did not campaign in Florida - she attended a private fundraising event in Sarasota earlier this week - just as Obama did in St. Petersburg a few months ago. Fundraising is allowable under the terms of the pledge.

That journalistic lying is allowable under the guise of "editorial" is reprehensible.
Shame on you.
- Virginia Littrell, St. Petersburg, Florida

I am cracking up here with people defending Hillary Clinton as "NOT" lying. I am going to agree...she didn't "really" lie after all. Such alleged lies are analogous to the young clever fellow who, in exchange for some significant favor from a best friend, promises his best friend that he will take his ugly sister to the prom and subsequently hires a cab to drop her off at the front door, never attending the prom...But, The fellow never really lied!...after all, he has the cab fare receipt to prove it! I can't wait for the day when the Clintons fade off into the sunset rarely to be heard from...New Hampshire politics has always been a hoot...from the days of the Canuck letter right up to Hillary's shenanigans.
- Rick Olson, Manchester

If Hillary didn't break the "no campaign" pledge, she certainly bent the heck out of it. Don't think for one second that her request to seat the Florida and Michigan delegates was remotely altruistic.

Ponder this... Why did Senator Clinton feel the need to make the request to seat Florida's delegates just a few days BEFORE the Florida primary?

Couldn't this move be seen as pandering, as an effort to skirt the "no campaigning" agreement, knowing that the request would be given widespread coverage on local news in Florida, painting Hillary Clinton in a favorable light and as a "friend of the Florida voter"?

I'd be interested in seeing a news story on just how much coverage this request *did* get in Florida's news media. (A quick google turned up several.) Might it not have had an effect on the vote margin? And, if so, how close to the line of "campaigning" did it come? Was it an explicit or ethical breach of the agreement?

Couldn't the request just as easily have been made AFTER the Florida primary, perhaps at her "victory" celebration, when the request could not have had any effect on the voting?

I think the answer is obvious. Hillary was doing anything she could to pad her already significant name recognition advantage in Florida, in order to provide some pre-Super Tuesday cover for her massive loss in the previous -- actually contested -- Democratic primary.

Chalk another one up in the "do anything" column.
- Karl K, Schaumburg, IL

The Clintons will say or do anything to get elected. This is not news.
- James, Manchester

This is valid. Yes, she hasn't 'campaigned' in the technical sense of the word, but she's certainly courted MI and FL voters...just keeping her name on the ballot was problem enough. Besides that, she had the least to lose in the whole deal--everyone knows who she is; the other 2 candidates had no chance to help voters in these states get to know them up close and personal--which is how many peoples' opinions are shaped.
- LS, Atlanta, GA

Steven in Manchester wrote "Who wrote this column? Talk about bias in print. How about a name? A credit?"

Have you ever heard of an editorial?
- Nathan, Washington, DC

Hey, maybe you guys can change your state motto to "Live Free or Lie!"
- richard mcenroe, north hollywood ca

Hillary is now officially the sleazy Clinton. And yes she did campaign in Florida - just as she said she would last Sunday.
- KC, Newhall, CA

Your entitlement is absolutely ridiculous. I cannot wait for the day when Iowa and New Hampshire's death grip on the primaries is finally loosened.
- Caitlin, Athens, GA

To my friends in New Hampshire: Times have changed. I lived in Florida for 26 years, having grown up in New England, and I can tell you that Florida is much more representative of where this country is going than is New Hampshire. Howard Dean and the DNC made a horrible mistake in stripping Florida of its delegates. I support Obama, but more power to Clinton for going to Florida. Remember 2000???? It could happen again.
- Bruce, Oxford, OH

This woman has been lying, stealing, and cheating her way to the top, just like her hubby, from the git go back in their Arkansas days. Why is this a surprise to anyone??!! Wake up will yah and recognize pure evil when you see it.
- Patrick, Bedford

Spending the winter in Florida and reading and watching the news daily, Senator Clinton did not campaign in Florida and was true to her pledge. That she flew in tonight AFTER the polls closed to thank her supporters is reasonable.

What I don't understand is how the Democrats in the Florida legislature let the vote slip through moving the Florida Primary date...in violation of National Democratic Committee rules! What a mess we will be in if the delegate count is close when the National Democratic Convention convenes this summer. What if the delegates from Florida could have made the decisive vote for the Democrat nominee? Remember Florida and "hanging chads".
- Joanne Hannon, pinellas Park, FL

I went to Hillary's web site two weeks ago and there were fundraisers which are allowed, AND scheduled events with appearances for her personally. If that's not campaigning, what is? Also, Obama has not campaigned in Florida at all. He had permission from the DNC before running a national ad. As for Floridians who organize and campaign on their own, thats fair.
The point is, Hillary did not keep her promise about the delegates and is now actively seeking them acting as if she is the only candidate that cares about the vote of the people. She has no honor. And as far as NH women go, they were duped when Hillary sent a huge mailing stating Obama was not pro-choice just before the primary in NH and Iowa, more lies against Obama. NH has every right to be angry. I know I am.
- Sarah McDonald, Des Moines, Iowa

Story is simply twisitng the facts.
Hillary pledged not to campaign in Florida.
She did not.
None of the candidates did (except Obama had TV ads running out of Florida to hit Alabama and Georgia for super Tuesday.
The voters in Florida clearly were able to cast informed votes --unless they don't have internet, cable tv or newspapers.

Senator Clinton won with more than 50% of the vote and with more than a half a million votes.

So----Congrats Hillary and I am proud to have cast my vote for you the NH Primary!
- Terri, Gilmanton NH

Don't get mad, get even!
Email your friends and relations in February 5th states and tell them what you think of Clinton's actions.
- Tom J, Mercer Island, Washington

We've all learned a lot about Hillary's tactics since then.

More and more people are on to the Clintons every day.

I voted twice for her husband and now can't even stand to look at him. They are traitors to their own party.

Barack Obama was robbed of a victory in NH due to last-minute smears via direct mail and due to "tears in the diner".

The USA deserves so much better. I hope the Super Tuesday voters aren't gullible enough to continue to fall for the hype...
- Elise, New Ipswich

I don't like Hillary and the Union Leader is probably right about this one. BUT
everyone knows that the Union Leader is a Republican rag and they would never publish a story about a Republican lying unless it was a primary and they were in favor of another Republican.
- Jim Chanin, Oakland, California

How much longer will we tolerate these people as leaders of the Democrat party? Wake up people before it's too late!
- David Charles, Derry

I cannot believe after all these years people still believe anything either Clinton says.

I read this stuff and I just shake my head.
- Gary, Seattle,wa

The Clintons lying will not kill me. That they sold our nuclear secrets to China for campaign cash can kill me. Since they got the secrets China has destroyed a target in space and threathened our west coast.
- Fremont B.Stewart, Rome City, Indiana

Aw, the old Clinton game is still running as it did years ago in Arkansas. Lets put some moral fibre back in the system and get rid of the lies and deceit that the Clintons have constantly presented over the past years.
- marvin moriarty, stowe vt

I know it is off topic, but Bill B. from Pelham is at least partially wrong.

Hundreds of US Marines were killed in Beirut, and we almost immediately retreated from there, giving extremists everywhere hope. That is correct.

It wasn't President Clinton, though, that ordered their deployment and retreat. It was Reagan.
- Stephen Boyington, Chester

Honestly, many of us in the rest of the country are pretty much over the petulance of New Hampshire and the other early states. It's all about the money, ane we all know it. I honestly hope that in the next cycle both parties will agree that it's time for a change.
- Carl, Jacksonville, Fl

New Hampshire--WE WERE PLAYED!!
I didn't vote for Hillary but I felt let down and deflated when she won. A lot of people told me they didn't like the press and others "burying" her--that she deserved a chance. NOW look at where that's gotten us!
She is a liar and so is Bill, and the two of them will do _anything_ to get back into the White House.
New Hampshireites--we were played like suckers.
- Ann, Manchester

If I had known about this when I voted, Barack Obama would have had my support. Hillary Clinton is good at some things, but I truely believed that she had become more honest over time.

I never thought that Hillary would lie to me like her husband did.
- Claire, Manchester

Man, do I feel like an idiot now.
- Michael, Rochester

I live in Florida and I have seen Obama commercials, and I have gotten calls from his campaign as well. Let's not throw stones people.
- Steve, Miami, FL

Who wrote this column? Talk about bias in print. How about a name? A credit?

"She signed it thinking that keeping the other candidates out of Michigan and Florida was to her advantage, but knowing she would break it if that proved beneficial later on. It did, and she did. New Hampshire voters, you were played for suckers."

Do you have personal knowledge of her thoughts? Has no other candidate lied? If Hillary came out and said that she was going to participate in these primaries would it have changed votes? Worry about the issues. Not he said, she said.
- Steve, Manchester, NH

You idiots still believe that garbage about Obama being a Muslim? Are you getting your information from e-mail forwards? Did you know the Clintons were responsible for those forwards? Better yet, as an AMERICAN, why is his religious affiliation so important to you anyhow? The last time I checked we had freedom of choice in this country and separation of church and state. It's a shame that ignorance doesn't automatically disqualify voters.
- Kasey, Londonderry

It is you that are lying.

All the Candidates are on the Ballot in Florida. Hillary is only coming here after the vote. Obama is running TV ads Hillary is not.

We have been disenfranchised here because of our States Republican majority and your mis-charachterizations are disgraceful.
- Leo Albert, Port St. Lucie, FL

What, you all think that slick Mitt and Barack "oprah" Obama are full of virtue? They are full of something else, for sure. Barack is such an empty suit surviving on his "charisma" while Mitt is certainly complicit in his business-like approach to managing the Big Dig mess in Mass. Hillary is not immune to the inherant sesspool of Washington politics and we'd be all very niave to think that Barack will "change" this system let alone become immune to it.
- Dennis, Bedford, NH

I agree. The UL needs to stop bashing the canidates. Even though you endorsed one canidate, the people that buy your newspaper have "Spreadout" endorsed all the canidates. So, boast about the person you endorsed, but stop bad rapping everyone else!
- R.King, Nashua

Obama campaigned and fundraised in Florida: http://www2.tbo.com/content/2007/sep/30/obama-vows-do-whats-right/?news-breaking

Hillary Clinton has not campaigned in Florida according to the pledge. She is going to Florida and speaking after the end of the election, thus honoring the pledge. Hillary cares about all Americans, including those who live in Iowa, New Hampshire and Michigan and Florida. If a democrat is to win the White House, he or she must win Michigan and campaign vigorously in Florida.
- Mike, Nashua, NH

For the record people, Barack Obama is not and never has been a muslim. Madrasa is the arabic word for school. He did NOT go to a muslim school. Not that it should matter...
- Clark, Atlanta, GA

Of course you were played for suckers, New Hampshire. But then, you're always played for suckers. When are you going to stop playing along?
- Kyda Sylvester, Auburn, CA

Like her husband, she lies, she prevaricates, she slimes her opponents. George Will got it right today when he described the Clintons thus:

"The distinctive cloud of coarseness that hovers over the Clintons, seeping acid rain."
- Buster Bunns, Ashland, OR

I would love to hear from some people who voted for Hillary. Do you regret your vote now? How do you defend this kind of dishonesty and lack of integrity?
- Linda, Nashua, NH

Clinton did not campaign in Florida over the weekend, and everything she's done is clearly within the limits of the pledge. She's trying to make it work for her, sure. It's a bloody political campaign. This carries no more weight than the accusation that Obama broke the pledge because his national ad buy over the past few days included Florida. Sorry. This is nonsense.
- Mike, Manchester

Is her being untruthful something new??
She is the 2nd most dangerous person in the US next to Ted Kennedy. Obama is right next to her. She will be back...promise!
- Ken D, Merrimack

Yes New Hampshire...you were played for suckers. But will the rest of our nation respond? Maybe Obama will win by a large enough margin that Flordia and Michigan wouldn't even matter...we can only be hopeful that this is the case
- Andrew, Seattle, WA

To Tim in Manchester: I get a kick out of people who try to defend their positions with, "Oh yeah, well everyone does it." It's an admission, pure and simple. Moreover, that "everyone does it" doesn't work here. Democrats have long alleged that Bush "lied" about WMDs but not once have I heard or seen a shred of evidence. Got any?? If so, then let's impeach. I can't think of anything that would more likely constitute a high crime or misdemeanor than an act of deception that manufactures evidence to support military action.
- Jim, Bedford

To Tim in Manchester you should check your facts. He allowed our soldiers in Beruit, in Somalia and on the USS Cole to die and did NOTHING about it! There has not been "tens of thousands" of US military deaths since Vietnam. As for Pat and her whining about poor Hillary. I take it you don;t read this paper much because if so you would see that Hillary is by no means the only one called to task. Disgusting are the things she is doing to try and win the campaign. Disgusting is her real motives for wanting the job and caring about you or me is not one of them. None of them are angels but Hillary is the most devious, manipulative and deceptive of them all. I am glad that the nation is seeing the person I knew she was all along. IF she does win the nomination I will be curious to see how many times if any she comes back to NH. We are nothing but a blip on her screen at this point and if you think you matter then your sadly mistaken.
- Bill B., Pelham

Well atleast when Bill lied tens of thousands of people didn't die. coughiraqcough. All politicians lie.
- Tim, Manchester

You know how you can tell Hilliary is lying? Her lips move....
- Steve, NAshua

Two words define it all "WHO CARES!"
Don't you guy's have anything better to wright about?
- Tom B, Derry

What part of "lying politician" surprises you? They all lie.
- BD, Peterborough

Hey, only those who voted for HilLIARy were played for suckers! Not the rest of us! This very newspaper covered the lying, treacherous scandal known as the Clinton Administration for 8 solid years. Surely nobody expected anything different this go around. Hiliary & Bill support the wanton, tax-payer funded killing of unborn babies, so who can be rightly surprised they lie, steal, cheat, or worse? The real story that I want to read is what is wrong with New Hamsphire Democrats that would actually vote for such a well documented loathsome candidate as HilLIARy Clinton? Fool them once, shame on Hillary. Fool them twice, shame on her Democratic voters.
- Ed Holdgate, Sandown, NH

I think it is about time your newspaper stopped demeaning the candidates, especially Hilary Clinton. You may have endorsed someone else, but in all fair newspaper writing, you should be fair to all the candidates.....this is disgusting, and now is the time to show that your newspaper can look at all sides, not just Hilary Clintin. Barack Obama is no angel.......
- Pat Dignard, Raymond

Maybe its one of those:
"it depends on the meaning of pledge"
Amazing how gullible people are that would still want these Clintons back in the WH
- Dave, Sunapee

It depends on what the meaning of the word 'participate' is .....she is married to Bill Clinton, you know. Did we expect her to be any different?
- julie, madbury,nh

Slick Hilly strikes again! And this is not the first time. So many of her supporters claim "Bush lied!" Well, what about Slick Hilly herself?
- Nicholl, Manchester, NH

A Clinton lie? You don't say. It is more newsworthy to report when they tell the truth.
- Steve Dennis, kingston